The Senate Intergovernmental Operations Committee is scheduled to meet on May 27 to consider legislation that authorizes the General Assembly to kill any final regulation by doing nothing.

On May 19, as expected, Gov. Tom Wolf vetoed  Senate Bill 327 (Argall-R- Schuylkill), which contains a provision that would stop any proposed or final environmental or other state agency regulation from being finalized during the COVID-19 emergency.

Judging from a meeting notice by the Senate Appropriations Committee, there will be action in both the House and the Senate on a General Fund and related budget bills the week of May 26.

On May 19, House Republicans are moving House Bill 2004 (Ortitay-R-Allegheny), that gives the General Assembly authority to annually reallocate monies from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund between participating agencies, instead of having an allocation fixed in law, into position for a final vote.

On May 20, the PA Land Trust Association sent a letter to all House members urging them to oppose House Bill 2004 (Ortitay-R-Allegheny) that gives the General Assembly the authority to annually reallocate monies from the Keystone Recreation, Park and Conservation Fund.

The Rails-To-Trails Conservancy is urging the public to contact their House members to oppose House Bill 2004 (Ortitay-R-Allegheny)  that would put funding  for trails in jeopardy, just when the public is using them most. The text of the message follows--

On May 19, the PA Supreme Court granted a motion by the PA Environmental Defense Foundation for oral argument in PEDF’s challenge to a July 29 Commonwealth Court ruling on the legality of the transfer of State Forest drilling revenue to balance the state budget.

On May 19, the DEP Citizens Advisory Council voted 9 to 4, with one abstention, against a motion to move DEP’s proposed carbon pollution reduction program covering power plants that is compatible with the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative to the Environmental Quality Board for consideration.

POSTPONED, But Expect It To Be Rescheduled: The Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee is scheduled to meet on May 21 to consider Senate Resolution 325 (Yaw-R-Lycoming) urging DEP to cease all action on developing a Carbon Pollution Reduction Program covering power plants.

On May 22, Sen. Gene Yaw (R-Lycoming), Majority Chair of the Senate Environmental Resources and Energy Committee, issued the following statement in response to the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation and New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection rejection of the Williams’ 400-MMcfd Transco Northeast Supply Enhancement (NESE) project.

On May 21, the Public Utility Commission clarified a section of a March 2020 Tentative Order directing an independent “remaining life study” of the Mariner East 1 pipeline crossing Pennsylvania and established a 10-day period for comments by active and interested parties.

The Environmental Quality Board is inviting comments on a proposed regulation to control methane emissions from existing oil and gas operations by setting volatile organic compound emission standards. (May 23 PA Bulletin notice)

On May 18, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and its partners filed a notice of intent to sue the federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for its failure to require Pennsylvania and New York to develop implementation plans that will achieve the 2025 Bay restoration goals.

From March 16 to May 19, Department of Environmental Protection employees have been teleworking and using COVID-19 mitigation measures to continue to fulfill its mission.  DEP staff have--

The Department of Environmental Protection is inviting the public, businesses and local governments to rate their experience with the agency during the pandemic shutdown.

On May 21, the Department of Environmental Protection announced the award of more than $9.6 million to support 145 local food waste reduction projects with funding provided by the Act 101 Recycling Program.

On May 19, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced a phased reopening of more state park and forest facilities in keeping with Gov. Wolf’s direction to ensure Pennsylvanians have opportunities to safely enjoy outdoor recreation and help maintain positive physical and mental health.

On May 18, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced the opening day statewide for all All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trails in state forests will be Tuesday, May 19.

On May 20, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources announced three caves within Forbes State Forest will remain closed until further notice due COVID-19-related concerns.

The Department of Conservation and Natural Resources is inviting the public to rate their experience with the agency during the pandemic shutdown.

On May 27, DCNR’s Conservation and Natural Resources Advisory Council is scheduled to hold a virtual meeting to hear an update on DCNR’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic and on the proposed ATV policy.

As Pennsylvania counties move forward with plans to reopen parts of their economies and more people go outdoors and seek recreation in public spaces this Memorial Day weekend, including parks and trails, Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful issued an urgent reminder to residents of Pennsylvania to properly dispose of trash and litter as they venture outside.

The Northeast Environmental Partners are now accepting nominations for the 2020 Environmental Awards, the Thomas P. Shelburne Award and the Emerging Environmental Leader Award. Nominations are due June 30.

[ Because Everything Is Connected To Everything Else ] Just in time for Memorial Day weekend, Gov. Wolf Friday announced all remaining counties in the state will move to the Yellow Phase of his reopening plan and 17 counties will move to the Green Phase.

The following bills of interest saw action last week in the House and Senate--

The following bills were given final approval by the Senate and House and are now on the Governor's desk for action--

Here are the Senate and House Calendars for the next voting session day and Committees scheduling action on bills of interest as well as a list of new environmental bills introduced--

By Patrick Beaty, Fair Districts PA

On May 22, Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary Dennis Davin announced more than $3 million in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding to provide clean water and improve sewage for communities in Greene, Indiana, Luzerne, Mifflin, and Schuylkill counties.

The PA Organization for Watersheds and Rivers will host a June 5 webinar on the Fundamentals of Drinking Water for Watershed Organizations starting at Noon.

The latest Watershed Winds newsletter from Penn State Extension features articles on--

Penn State’s Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center in Huntingdon County hosted a program with author Richard Louv May 23 on his new book-- Our Wild Calling-- from 1:00 to 2:30 p.m. as part of its Human Nature Series.

On May 19, the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is holding an online meeting for high school students interested in joining CBF’s Student Leadership Program.

The Wildlands Conservancy summer camp team is bringing all the fun, adventure and wonder of nature right to your home through the new Camp-2-U Program!

While the Delaware River Sojourn has been canceled for 2020, the Delaware River Basin Commission and its many partners are celebrating the spirit of the event in a June 20 Sojourn Virtual Campfire program from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.

The latest UpStream newsletter from the Stroud Water Research Center in Chester County describes how a new canoe fleet helps foster meaningful on-the-water educational experiences for students from the Octoraro High School.

The Pennsylvania iMapInvasives program has two citizen science challenges coming up in July and August that will help identify and map invasive species in Pennsylvania.

The Mid-Atlantic Climate Change Education Conference on June 29-30 will be moving to a new virtual format.

In June, the PA Resources Council will launch a Traveling Glass Recycling Bin Program to serve residents living in municipalities no longer accepting glass in curbside recycling collection.

On May 19, the Environmental Quality Board voted to approve a proposed regulation for public comment to remove Stage II vapor controls at gasoline and add vapor leak monitoring requirements for small gasoline storage tanks.

On May 22, the Public Utility Commission's PA One Call Damage Prevention Committee announced it approved 47 disciplinary actions, including $39,250 in penalties at its May 12 meeting.

On May 21, the Independent Fiscal Office reported natural gas production in Pennsylvania increased 6.8 percent during the first quarter over the same period in 2019, the lowest growth rate in over two years.

On May 21, the PJM Interconnection announced it has the resources available and is prepared to meet summer demand for customers in 13 states and the District of Columbia.

On May 22, PPL Electric Utilities said weather scientists are predicting a more active than average hurricane season this year and PPL's grid and workforce will be ready if any of those storms affect central and eastern Pennsylvania.

“We want to keep the face of the farm the same: No houses,” said Mt. Pleasant farmer Doug Clabaugh,  explaining why he and his wife Christine decided to preserve their 87-acre farm in partnership with the Land Conservancy of Adams County, who announced the preservation of the farm in May 2020.

The Western PA Conservancy will host a May 28 online program with John Matteo describing the innovative approaches used to preserve Frank Lloyd Wright's Fallingwater home in Fayette County

The Spring 2020 Highlands Journal is now available from the Delaware Highlands Conservancy featuring articles on--

The May 22 Take Five Fridays With Pam is now available from the PA Parks and Forests Foundation featuring articles on--

With declining populations and a contracted range, northern goshawks have become rarer sights in Pennsylvania.

On May 22, the Fish and Boat Commission urged anglers to report and dispose of any invasive Northern Snakehead fish that may be caught in the lower Susquehanna River.

Audubon Pennsylvania and local Audubon Chapters in Pennsylvania are hosting a series of virtual field trips every Wednesday at noon to highlight conservation work done by members around the state.

Click Here: Week’s Worth Of PA Environment & Energy NewsClips

Click Here for a list of public participation opportunities and a calendar of events.

Click Here for grants, awards, recognition programs and contest deadlines.

Here are highlights of actions taken by agencies on environmental regulations, technical guidance and permits.

CLICK HERE to View or Print the 75 page PA Environment Digest.

Send your stories, photos and links to videos about your project, environmental issues or programs for publication in the PA Environment Digest to: PaEnviroDigest@gmail.com.

The PA Environment Digest is a proud sponsor of the 2020 PA Abandoned Mine Reclamation Conference will now be held on October 28-29 in State College.

PA Environment Digest is a supporting member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, Pennsylvania Council Trout Unlimited and the Doc Fritchey Chapter Trout Unlimited.